Skip to Main Content

Severe Weather

Severe Weather

Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Severe storms are POSSIBLE. Continue with normal activity but continue to monitor the circumstances.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe thunderstorms are OCCURRING. Prepare to move to a place of shelter if threatening weather approaches. Monitor local television/radio stations for storm updates.

Tornado Watch: Tornados are POSSIBLE. Monitor local television/radio stations and be prepared to take shelter.

Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar within the warning area specified. Persons in the path of the storm should seek immediate shelter. Turn on battery operated radios to monitor the storm situation and wait for the "all clear" or end of the warning period to be announced.

Important Note: The tornado warning sirens are manually activated from the Galesburg Public Safety Building Duty Office and will be sounded in the event that a tornado has been observed by a trained weather spotter and/or the National Weather Service Doppler radar has indicated "rotation" in a storm in the Galesburg area.

Shelter Information: Seek shelter in a basement or inside hallway at the lowest level. Stay away from windows, outside doors and corners. Avoid areas with "wide span" roofs such as auditoriums, gymnasiums, cafeterias and large hallways. If outdoors get to a substantial building. If there are no buildings available lie in a ditch, culvert, or low-lying area until the storm has passed.

As a reminder: There will be no "all clear" message sounded through the siren system. It is recommended that community members should monitor local media sources or a weather radio during any storm to confirm when the storm threat has expired.

Snow Emergency

The City of Galesburg may issue a snow emergency when two inches of snow have accumulated and it continues to snow. During such declarations the city ordinance requires that vehicles be moved from all city streets to permit the streets to be plowed.

Vehicles not moved to College parking lots or other off-street parking areas will be subject to City Snow Emergency Citations ($50), towing (estimated at $75) and subsequent storage fees ($25 per day). Vehicles may be returned to the street (if necessary) after both sides of the street have been plowed.

Additional Safety Tips & Heating Protocols

Please be sure to take a few extra seconds to review the outside conditions and prepare yourself for walking on campus. For instance:

  • Watch for slippery areas in parking lots, walks, and building entrances where snow, ice, or water can accumulate.
  • A pair of winter shoes or boots with non-slip soles are a good choice for footwear. In extreme conditions, traction aids that attach to your footwear can help prevent slips and falls. Remember to remove traction aids before walking on interior building floors to prevent slipping.
  • Again, wear hats and gloves. When outside in dangerously cold temperatures, exposed skin increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. 
  • Walk with shorter, choppier steps with toes pointed slightly outward when on slippery surfaces.


Extremely cold weather may also lead to additional emergency situations within campus buildings and residence halls, including:

  • Heat below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius)
  • A lack of hot water.
  • A flood or water overflow.

In the interest of keeping your fellow residents as warm as possible and preventing damage to college facilities, please refrain from opening your window. It is also important that heating vents be clear of furniture and other belongings that may block circulation. Temperatures may vary from room to room within any given building. If your room is a warmer one, please keep in mind that opening a window can affect the heat for the entire building and creates a risk of freezing utilities that could create significant short- and long-term maintenance issues.

In addition to Campus Safety (309-341-7979), resident assistants (RAs) are also important contacts if a safety hazard is observed. They can help identify whether an issue is isolated to a particular area or is widespread. Campus Safety will investigate and take appropriate action, including sending an emergency technician to fix an urgent issue.

Work Order Request

If you have an issue in your residence hall or building that is not an emergency, please submit a work order request using Asset Essentials-Work Order Request on My.Knox (password required).

Work Order